New York: Ban Rat Poisons That Kill Wildlife!

Since 1989, hundreds of mouse and rat predators, including raptors, coyotes, foxes and even dogs and cats, have died after eating rodents who ingested rat poison.

One of these fallen predators was a mate of Manhattan's famous red-tailed hawk Pale Male. Autopsies show that many others have died as a result of ingesting rodenticides, including 50 red-tailed hawks, 47 squirrels, 36 great horned owls, 19 crows, 12 screech owls, 7 Cooper’s hawks, 7 deer, 6 foxes, 3 golden eagles and 2 coyotes. Again, these are only the animals who were found dead and tested.

All of these predators are desirable because they add interest to New York's natural landscape, and they do the very thing that Park officials are trying to do with their poisons -- control the rodent population.

The worst offenders are second-generation anticoagulants, which accumulate and remain in rodent tissues until animals eat them. These poisons cause uncontrollable internal bleeding and eventually lead to death.

Please sign the petition to urge New York's officials to put their wildlife above all else and to stop using rat poisons that harm wildlife!

We, the undersigned, are concerned with the death of wild and domestic animals as a result of exposure to rat poison. Since 1989, hundreds of mouse and rat predators, including raptors, coyotes, foxes and even dogs and cats, have died after eating rodents who ingested rat poison.

One of these fallen predators was a mate of Manhattan's famous red-tailed hawk Pale Male. Autopsies show that many others have died as a result of ingesting rodenticides, including 50 red-tailed hawks, 47 squirrels, 36 great horned owls, 19 crows, 12 screech owls, 7 Cooper’s hawks, 7 deer, 6 foxes, 3 golden eagles and 2 coyotes. Again, these are only the animals who were found dead and tested.

All of these predators are desirable because they add interest to New York's natural landscape, and they do the very thing that Park officials are trying to do with their poisons -- control the rodent population.

The worst offenders are second-generation anticoagulants, which accumulate and remain in rodent tissues until animals eat them. These poisons cause uncontrollable internal bleeding and eventually lead to death. We respectfully urge you to put New York's wildlife above all else and discontinue the use of powerful rodenticides that could kill larger, desirable animals. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.